The Ultimate Met Gala 2026 Time Guide: 5 Crucial Start Times You Can’t Miss

The Met Gala is, without a doubt, the most anticipated annual night in fashion, art, and celebrity culture, and knowing the exact start time is the key to catching every iconic look. Unlike many awards shows, the Met Gala's schedule is a multi-stage event, with different times for the first arrivals, the official red carpet kickoff, and the highly-anticipated global livestream.

For the upcoming 2026 event, scheduled for the traditional first Monday in May, the official red carpet coverage will begin at 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). This article breaks down the full schedule for Monday, May 4, 2026, from the initial arrivals to the secretive after-parties, ensuring you don't miss a single moment of the fashion world’s biggest night.

The Met Gala: Event Profile & Essential Details (2026 Edition)

The Met Gala, officially known as the Costume Institute Benefit, is an annual fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York City. It marks the grand opening of the Institute's annual fashion exhibition, setting the theme and dress code for the night's A-list attendees. The event is consistently chaired by Anna Wintour, the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue.

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Here are the essential details for the 2026 event:

• Official Event Name: The Costume Institute Benefit (The Met Gala)
• Date: Monday, May 4, 2026
• Venue: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
• 2026 Theme & Exhibition: "Costume Art"
• Exhibition Opening: The public exhibition will open a few days after the Gala, running from May 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027.
• Lead Sponsors: While co-chairs are announced closer to the date, the 2026 event is set to be led by sponsors Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos.
• Purpose: To raise funds for The Costume Institute, the only curatorial department at The Met that must fund itself.

The 5 Crucial Met Gala Start Times You Must Know (ET)

The question "What time does the Met Gala start?" has several answers, as the evening unfolds in timed stages. To catch all the action, you need to know these five key moments, all based on Eastern Time (ET) in New York City.

1. First Arrivals & Press Check-In: 4:30 p.m. ET

While the official broadcast hasn't begun, the first high-profile guests and members of the press start arriving around 4:30 p.m. ET. This is when the initial buzz begins. Security is tight, and photographers line the iconic steps of The Met, preparing for the main event. Guests often start arriving early to avoid a massive bottleneck later in the evening.

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2. Official Red Carpet Kick-Off: 5:30 p.m. ET

The official red carpet arrivals are generally scheduled to kick off around 5:30 p.m. ET. This marks the start of the primary guest flow. You will begin to see major celebrities, designers, and key figures from the fashion industry making their grand entrance.

3. Global Livestream Start Time: 6:00 p.m. ET (The Main Event)

This is the most important time for viewers worldwide. The official Met Gala livestream, typically hosted by Vogue, begins at 6:00 p.m. ET. The livestream is the only way to see the majority of the celebrity arrivals and is broadcast across Vogue's digital platforms, including their website, YouTube channel, Instagram, and TikTok. This two-hour window is dedicated almost entirely to the red carpet procession, interviews, and detailed looks at the thematic couture.

4. Red Carpet Wrap-Up: 8:00 p.m. ET

The red carpet portion of the evening typically wraps up around 8:00 p.m. ET. By this time, the final, most anticipated guests—often the event's co-chairs or the biggest fashion icons—have made their entrance. The doors to the museum close, and the event moves inside, away from the public eye.

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5. The Secret Dinner & After-Parties: 8:00 p.m. ET Onward

What happens after the red carpet is notoriously private. Once inside, the guests are treated to a cocktail hour, followed by a private viewing of the new Costume Institute exhibition. The evening culminates with a formal, seated dinner, a performance by a major musical act, and the event's main fundraising activities. The entire event is a strict "no-phones" zone, which is why there is virtually no public footage from inside the Gala itself. After the main event concludes, the true A-list crowd heads to exclusive, late-night after-parties across New York City, where the fashion risks often intensify.

Met Gala Time Zone Conversion Table for Global Viewers

Since the Met Gala is a global event, viewers need to convert the 6:00 p.m. ET official livestream start time to their local time zone. Use this handy table to plan your viewing party for Monday, May 4, 2026, based on the 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) kickoff.

How to Watch the Met Gala Livestream and Red Carpet

The Met Gala is a highly exclusive event, but the red carpet arrivals are made available to the public via a free, official livestream. This is the only way to see the celebrity fashion and interviews as they happen.

Official Livestream Channels

The primary and most reliable way to watch the Met Gala red carpet is through the official channels hosted by Vogue. The live broadcast will begin at 6:00 p.m. ET.

• Vogue.com: The magazine’s website hosts the main stream.
• YouTube: The Vogue YouTube channel is a major host for the live event.
• Social Media: Coverage is also streamed across Vogue’s official social media platforms, including Instagram and TikTok.

Cable and Other Options

In addition to the official Vogue stream, other networks often provide live coverage of the arrivals, sometimes starting earlier than the 6 p.m. ET official stream:

• E! Network: E! News typically offers extensive coverage on cable television, often starting at 6:00 p.m. ET.
• Streaming Services: Services that carry E!, such as Hulu Live, Fubo, and Sling, may also broadcast the red carpet coverage.

The Met Gala red carpet is a carefully choreographed event, with guests arriving in a staggered fashion to ensure maximum visibility for each thematic look. The coverage is focused entirely on the arrivals, as the rest of the evening—the museum exhibition viewing, the exclusive dinner, and the high-profile performances—remains a private affair, guarded by the strict "no-social-media" policy imposed by Anna Wintour and The Met.

To fully enjoy the 2026 Met Gala and its "Costume Art" theme, make sure to tune into the Vogue livestream promptly at 6:00 p.m. ET on Monday, May 4, 2026. This two-hour window is your only chance to witness the most spectacular fashion moments of the year.